Shields honored as AL's best

Update, 10:05 p.m. LHP Scott Kazmir worked into the sixth inning in his rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Monday, throwing 81 pitches as he allowed three hits (including a solo homer) and walked one. Kazmir, completing his recovery from a left elbow strain, is expected to join the Rays in Baltimore on Tuesday and assuming all is well start preparing for his first start of the season, likely on Sunday in Boston.
RHP Al Reyes also had a successful outing for Class A Vero, striking out the three batters he faced. If all is well with Reyes, who had been out with a shoulder impingement, he will be activated on Thursday.
 

Rays starter James Shields got two wins, and Monday he got something to go with them - American League Player of the Week honors.
Shields was 2-0 with  1.13 ERA in beating Toronto and Boston, as the Rays won six straight and moved into a tie for first atop the AL East. He allowed two runs in seven innings against the Jays on Tuesday, then threw a two-hit complete shutout against the Red Sox on Sunday.
Shields was chosen over former Rays prospect Josh Hamilton, who hit .429 with 10 RBIs for Texas in the week ending Sunday, as well as Texas teammate Michael Young (.462, 5 extra-base hits), Detroit's Magglio Ordonez (.400, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs), Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (2-0, 2.08 ERA) and Cleveland's Cliff Lee (1-0, 0.00).
Shields will receive a Swiss Tourneau watch for the award.

[Brian Cassella, Times]

For openers, Shields

James Shields was officially named the opening day starter after Wednesday's game.
Manager Joe Maddon made the announcement and said the Rays still don't know how long ace Scott Kazmir will be out.
Shields acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances of Kazmir being hurt, but said: "It's one of the biggest honors a starter could have.."

Pena checks out okay

Rays 1B Carlos Pena passed his physical exam on Thursday, leaving only the paperwork to be finalized on the three-year, $24.125-million deal announced last week. Pena had agreed to a one-year, $6-million deal in the interim until he returned to the Tampa Bay area from the Dominican Republic, where he had been working out.

RHP James Shields said one of the reasons he agreed to the potential seven-year, $44-million deal was because he wanted to be with the Rays for a long time. And as part of that, he may move from Las Vegas to the Tampa Bay area. His daughter is due to start kindergarten in the fall, and Shields and his wife are contemplating relocating. ... As part of his contract, Shields will donate up to $650,000 to the team charitable foundation.

LHP Casey Fossum is the latest ex-Ray to find a new home, agreeing to a minor-league deal with the Pirates. Former Rays reliever Dan Miceli is also attempting a comeback, agreeing to a minor-league deal with the Red Sox.

Shields' deal could be worth $44-million

The Rays formally announced a seven-year contract with pitcher James Shields that could be worth up to $44-million and could be the longest contract in club history.

"I just want to be part of it,'' Shields said.

Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman cited three reasons for making such a commitment - Shields' "talent, work ethic and character.''

Shields is guaranteed $11.25-million - four years of salary starting at $1-million this season for a total of $9.25-million, plus a $2-million buyout - and the Rays hold options for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Based on figures obtained by the Times, here is the breakdown of what Shields could make:

2008 - $1-million
2009 - $1.5-million
2010 - $2.5-million
2011 - $4.25-million
2012 option - $7-million or 2-million buyout
2013 option - $9-million or $1.5-million buyout
2014 option - $12-million or $1-million buyout

There are also various incentive clauses based on innings pitched and starts, as well as where Shields finishes in the Cy Young voting that could add up to about $6.25-million more.

- Marc Topkin, Times staff writer